No, I'm being serious. People have suggested that the contract year effect is real in other sports; here's an award-winning paper from the Sloan conference that talks about the effect in basketball. http://www.sloansportsconference.com/?p=655

If you believe that it's possible to improve on-the-field performance, why not off-the-field performance? And if you don't believe that it's possible to improve on-the-field performance (which I personally don't), shouldn't it at least be possible to change this type of thing, which is mostly attitude?

It might be cynical, but I really think a smart player coming up to the end of his contract could consciously try to take on a more vocal leadership role, *especially* if he expects that "it would (profitably for him) be noted by the marketplace". You guys are working with an agent these days -- would he ever advise a client to try that?